Tube-stopper.



No. 670,528. I Patented Mar. 26, 1901,;

. E. BLAMEY.-

TUBE STOPPEB. (A ueagon m5; July'25, 1900.) (No Model.)

V Z M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD BLAMEY, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

TUBE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,528,. dated March 26, 1901. duplication filed July 2 1900. Serial No. 24,854 (No model.)

of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Stoppers, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation view showing my improved stopper applied to a tubular object, as a boiler-tube, the latter'and the packing service which I make use of being shown in central longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,'the stopper being shown ready for application to a tubular'object, as a boiler-tube, the latter and the stopper as a whole being shown in central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a front end view of the parts as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section as on .the line a a of Fig. 2. the parts as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing certain novel features of my improved stopper. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing a slight modification of my improved stopper.

Similar reference numerals denote like parts throughout the-several views of the drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in devices of that class commonly known as tube-stoppers, the same being utilized for the purpose of closing tubular objects, as boiler-tubes, which may have become defective or undesirable for service through use or otherwise.

The object of this invention is to provide a stopper for the purpose stated which shall be simple, cheap, and novel as regards construetion, novel and efficient in operation,

which shall embody features whereby the adjustment of the stopper along the interior of a tubular object, as a boiler-tube, and whereby undue rotative movement of said stopper or of any of the parts thereof may be under the control of the user during the operation Fig. 5 is a rear end view of disposition and arrangement of the various parts, in certain combinations of the latter, and in certain'details of construction, all of which will be specifically referred to hereinafter.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, myimproved stopperas there shown consists, essentially, of the head 2, expander 3, sleeve 4, and adjusting medium 5, and in connection therewith I make use of packing service, as 6.

The foregoing parts when assembled. as illustrated in the drawings are inserted ill a tubular object, as a boiler-tube 7, appearing in the first instance as shown in Fig. 2 and thereafter upon the medium 5 being duly turned appearing as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The head 2 is provided with a hollow extension 2, having in its inner end an opening 2", angular in co'ntour. The expander 3 is provided-with a hollow extension 3, angular in cross-section, and the latter engages the angular opening 2 in a manner to permit longitudinal adjustment of the expander 3 and head 2' one with respect to the other and to obviate rotative movement of said expander and head one irrespective of the other.

The edge surface of the expander 3 and the interior of the rear end portion of the sleeve 4 are suitably inclined, so that the expander 3 when drawn toward the head 2 will expand the rear end portion of the sleeve 4 to a frictional locking engagement with the .tube '7, and to better facilitate this action of the parts I prefer that the rear end portion of the sleeve 4 be provided with suitable kerfs or open slots, as 7, thus forming engaging portions 4 at the rear end of said sleeve.

The angles of inclination of the expander edge surface and the interior surface of the rear end portion of the sleeve 4 vary somewhat by preference, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The front edge of the sleeve 4 is beveled rearwardly, substantially as shown, and the rear edge of the head 2 is beveled forwardly, substantially as shown, and between these beveled surfaces and upon the extension 2'1 dispose the packing service 6, preferably of rubber or other yielding or elastiematerial.

The head 2 is provided with a suitable contral opening 3", through which extends the adjusting medium 5. This adjusting medium is here shown in the form of a bolt, having the flange 8 and having suitable exterior threads adapted to engage corresponding; threads formed in the central opening 9, with which the expander 3 is provided and which alines longitudinally with the opening 3 in the head 2.

It will be observed that the extension 2 telescopes the sleeve 4 and that the extension 3' telescopes the extension 2.

To overcome the serious difficulty heretofore experienced in locating a tube-stopper at variable points along the interior of a tubular object and in obviating the tendency thereof to rotate with the adjusting medium when the latter sought to lock the parts, I provide my improved stopper-head with oppositely-arranged controller-studs, as 10 ll), each having a recess, as 11, closed at one end. I further make use of a tubular controller 12, having at its head or engaging end oppositely arranged lateral lugs 13 13, which upon the controller being suitably adjusted with respect to the head 2 and then properly turned or rotated engage one the recess formed in one of said studs and the other the recess formed in the opposite stud. By means of this controller, which may be of any desired length, the user is enabled to insert the stopper as a whole into a tubular object and adjust the same to any desired point interiorly therealong.

In addition to the controller above referred to I also make use of a socket-wrench 14 for turning the adjusting medium 5, which socket-wrench maybe provided with a handle at its outer end or there suitably shaped as shown to receive an ordinary wrench, and the said socket-wrench is provided at its opposite end with a socket 1i, suitably recessed to take over or engage the head of the adjusting medium 5. The socket-wrench 14: is incased by the controller 2 and is of somewhat greater length than said controller.

As the recesses in the studs 10 10 are each closed at one end, the controller 12 not only enables the user to adjust the stopper as a whole along the interior of the tube 7, but also enables him to prevent rotative movement thereof when the socket-wrench 14: is turned to accordingly turn the adjusting me dium 5.

In Fig. 7 the head 2 is somewhat modified to permit external sealing at the end of the tube 7, the form of the packing service in cross-section being also somewhat modified, as shown.

In practice the stopper is inserted in the tube 7, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the user meanwhile grasping the controller 12. Thereupon by properly turning the socket-wrench 1a the user turns the adjusting medium 5, which results in movement of the expander 3 toward the head 2, the expander taking with it the sleeve 4, thus fully expanding the packing service 6 to a sealing engagement with the interior wall of the tube 7, and by further turning the adjusting medium 5, as specified, the engaging portions of the sleeve l are firmly expanded to a frictional locking engagement with the interior wall of said tube 7, or should the engaging portions of the sleeve 4- be more yielding than the packing service 6 then these engaging portions will be first expanded to a frictional locking engagement with the interior wall of tube 7, and thereafter the head 2 will travel toward the expander 2-}, thus expanding the packing service 6 to a sealing engagement with the interior wall of tube 7. The stopper when firmly seated within the tube 7, as herein described, will appear substantially as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

From the foregoing description of my i|nproved tube-stopper it will be seen that the same is particularly well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended and, further,that the same may be modified to some extent without material departure from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the class herein described comprising a head having a hollow extension, an expander provided with an extension adapted to telescopically engage the extension of said head, the telescopic engagement of said expander extension with said head extension being such as to prevent rotation of said head and said expander one independently of the other, a sleeve encircling said expander and the extension of said head, and expansible only at the rear end thereof, and means for urging said expander and said head one in the direction of the other, substantially as herein specified.

2. A device of the class herein described comprising a head having a hollow extension, an expander provided with an extension adapted to telescopically engage the extension of said head, the telescopic engagement of said expander extension with said head extension being such as to prevent rotation of said head and said expander one independently of the other, a sleeve encircling said expander and the extension of said head, and expansible only at the rear end thereof, yielding packing service between said sleeve and said head, and means for urging said expander and said head one in the direction of the other, substantially as herein specified.

A device of the class herein described comprising a head having a recessed controller-stud, and a controller having a laterallyprojecting lug adapted to engage the recess of said stud, substantially as herein specified.

4. A device of the class herein described comprising a head having a controller-stud, an adjusting medium extending through said head, a tubular controller adapted to engage said studs, and a socket-wrench within said controller and adapted toengage said adj usting medium the said socket-wrench being of greater length than the said controller, substantially as herein specified.

5. A device of the class herein described comprising a head having a hollow extension, an expander provided with an extension adapt-ed to telescopically engage the extension of said head, the telescopic'engagement of said expander extension with said head extension being such as to prevent rotation of said head and said expander one independently of the other, a sleeve encircling said expander and the extension of said head, the said sleeve having open longitudinal slots forming expansible engaging portions at one end of said sleeve, yielding packing service between said sleeve and said head, and means for urging said expander and said head one in the direction of the other, substantially as herein specified.

6. A device of the class herein described comprising a head having-a hollow extension and a beveled inner edge, an expander having an extension adapted to telescopically engage the extension of said head, the telescopic engagement of said expander extension with said head extension being such as to prevent rotation of said head and said expander one independently of the other, a sleeve encircling said expander and the extension of said head, the said sleeve being expansible only at the rear end and having a beveled edge at the opposite end, yielding packing service between said sleeve and said head, and means for urging said expander and said head one in the direction of the other, substantially as herein specified.

' 'EDWARD BLAMEY.

Witnesses: 4

FLORA E. BLAMEY, ALICE E. BAUGHAN. 

